The 2006 Women's World Chess Championship (WWCC) was held in Ekaterinburg, a large city in central Russia, about 900 miles and two hours flight from Moscow, from March 10-27. Xu Yuhua emerged victorious and in this article, American representative IM Irina Krush wonders: "How did Xu prevail in all those matches--was it luck or fate?"

"Oh wow, so many trophies. Are you cheerleaders?" Coming home from the third All-Girls Nationals in Chicago, this was the question the Homeland Security agent asked my students. I laughed it off the first time, but 30 minutes later, when the flight attendant wondered whether the trophies were for gymnastics, I became annoyed.